"Thank you" can be an incredibly powerful pair of words, especially if the person you're thanking really needs to hear them, or isn't expecting them. In this short TED talk, Dr. Laura Trice muses over the power of saying thank you, and reminds us why we should say it—and ask to hear it—more often.

The talk is only about three minutes, but Dr. Trice hits two big points—first, that most of us really do want to hear someone thank us for the things that we do, even if it's something that we're supposed to be doing anyway. Being appreciated is one of those things that really motivates us, both at work and in life, so a little goes a long way if you can offer up a genuine thank you when it's appropriate. Second, she notes that it's equally important in our relationships to make it clear when we want to be appreciated, otherwise we run the risk of never hearing it because the other people in our lives just assume we already know we are, or that they don't need to say it. In other words, if you feel underappreciated, make it clear to the people in your life that you feel that way—anyone who actually cares about you will be more than willing to make sure that's no longer the case.